American Family vs. Hastings Mutual: Which Company is the Best Fit for You?

Quick Facts

• Based on national averages for auto insurance, American Family offers significantly more affordable prices than Hastings Mutual
• American Family offers more affordable rates for residents of suburban areas
• Hastings Mutual has less expensive prices for drivers who have a speeding ticket on their driving record

American Family or Hastings Mutual: Which Company has the Cheapest Car Insurance?

So, you're considering switching to a new insurance policy. With so many ads from all sorts of companies offering hefty savings, you're probably wondering exactly how much you might be able to save.

You've maybe even narrowed your search down to American Family or Hastings Mutual for your next policy, but between the two, which company has cheaper premiums for car insurance?

Looking at nationwide averages, Hastings Mutual is quite a bit more expensive than American Family, with rates averaging $211 a month compared to just $140 with American Family.

Even so, that doesn't mean American Family will necessarily be less expensive than Hastings Mutual for each driver. Insurance carriers use all sorts of complex algorithms to determine premiums, so depending on how clean your driving record is or how good your credit score is (among many other factors), you could see wildly different prices from the ones above.

Wanting to know if American Family or Hastings Mutual is really the right carrier for you? Keep on reading to see how average rates can change based on all of the factors we've mentioned above.

American Family vs. Hastings Mutual: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

American Family and Hastings Mutual compete against each other in five states, with Hastings Mutual offering more affordable premiums to the average driver in all of them. If you live in Iowa, Hastings Mutual is the cheaper of the two companies when looking at the overall average rates. American Family is the more affordable option in Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, and Wisconsin.

But there's more to calculating auto insurance prices than just where you call home. Keep reading to learn more.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

You might already know that teen drivers normally pay a lot more for insurance than any other group of drivers out there on the road. That's usually because teen drivers are statistically much more likely to get into an accident that results in a car insurance claim, making them much riskier to insure.

That being said, that doesn't mean that teen drivers have to just accept sky-high auto insurance rates. For example, 18-year-old drivers pay an average of almost 15% less per month by choosing American Family over Hastings Mutual.

However, both carriers will offer you dramatically lower premiums by the time you turn 25. Hastings Mutual offers the steepest drop, with 25-year-olds paying less than half what 18-year-old drivers are charged. That being said, American Family still has the cheapest prices at $121 per month.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

Once you approach retirement age, you'll typically enjoy the lowest car insurance premiums you can find. You've been on the road for years, and all that experience pays off when it comes to your monthly prices for auto insurance.

But who has the best rates for retired drivers between American Family and Hastings Mutual? American Family gets the edge, with prices for drivers 65 and older over 35% less expensive than the national average for Hastings Mutual.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

Those who are single tend to get offered slightly more expensive insurance rates than married policyholders. That's because policies for married couples generally cover several vehicles, which many companies will give you a discount for.

For single policyholders, the difference in average premiums between these two carriers is significant, with American Family prices coming in at a quarter less than Hastings Mutual's. The advantage is also clear for married drivers - American Family offers the cheapest average rates.

American Family or Hastings Mutual: Average Rates by Gender

Did you know men usually pay more for car insurance than women? That's because women are less likely to get speeding tickets and get into collisions, which decreases the chances of filing a claim with insurance.

Generally, men see premiums around 3% a month higher with American Family, but with Hastings Mutual, the difference is closer to 2% per month.

Looking at overall affordability, American Family offers the most affordable average prices for both men and women. On average, male drivers save about $70 a month and women save about $70 with American Family compared to the average Hastings Mutual policyholder.

American Family vs. Hastings Mutual: Compare State Minimum vs. Full Coverage Rates

*State minimum value indicates liability-only policies at each state's minimum bodily injury and property damage (BI/PD) limits

**Full coverage indicates state minimum BI/PD limits with collision and comprehensive coverages added to policy.

For most people, insurance can be pretty complicated. Everyone needs auto insurance, but there are so many different terms and coverages that it can be hard to find the right policy for you.

The two most common policies that drivers look at fall into two categories -- liability coverage (which provides property damage and bodily injury coverage for other drivers and passengers if you cause a collision) and full coverage (which includes two additional coverages -- collision and comprehensive -- alongside what you get with a liability policy).

Looking specifically at state minimum liability insurance, American Family has the significant edge, with average monthly premiums coming in at $96. If you want a full coverage policy with the same state minimum limits, American Family again has the edge, with policies averaging around $185 per month to Hastings Mutual's $279.

Is American Family or Hastings Mutual Better for Drivers with Spotty Records?

You've probably seen plenty of commercials from car insurance companies offering great rates for good drivers, but that doesn't mean people with less-than-perfect driving records can't save money, too.

Collisions and speeding tickets will most likely raise your prices, but is American Family or Hastings Mutual cheaper for drivers with less-than-perfect records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Policyholders who use American Family for their auto insurance can typically expect their monthly bill to go up about 20% after getting a speeding ticket. Hastings Mutual policyholders can expect a less drastic increase of around 16%.

But Hastings Mutual is generally the more affordable option for both drivers who have clean records and those with a recent ticket. With Hastings Mutual Insurance Company, drivers with a clean record can save about $9 a month and drivers with a speeding ticket can save around $18 per month.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

After an accident, drivers who have their insurance through American Family can expect to see about an $20 -- or around 14% -- rise in their car insurance rates. Drivers who use Hastings Mutual for their auto insurance will see a monthly bill about $17 (or 13%) more expensive after reporting an accident to their car insurance company.

At the end of the day, the cheaper premiums come from Hastings Mutual, with average rates coming in at $126 compared to American Family Insurance's $138.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with a DUI?

If you get a DUI charge on your record, it's probably going to cost you more than a simple ticket or even a collision. Hastings Mutual drivers usually see a 77% raise in their insurance prices after a DUI charge, while American Family will normally increase premiums by around 25%.

But if you end up with a DUI charge and are looking for more affordable prices, American Family tends to be less expensive for the average driver, with monthly premiums coming in at about $158 to Hastings Mutual's $478.

How does Credit Score Impact American Family and Hastings Mutual Rates?

You may not have known, but your credit score can come into play when carriers calculate your monthly bill. This isn't true for everyone (for example, California and Michigan are two states that ban the practice entirely), but it might come into play for lots of drivers.

The reasoning car insurance companies use is that policyholders with bad credit will be less likely to pay their bills on time; so generally, they'll be asked to pay more, while those with good credit will be rewarded with cheaper premiums.

Looking specifically at Hastings Mutual and American Family, which one has the lowest rates for drivers at different credit levels?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

If you have a solid credit score, American Family will usually reward you the most. For policyholders with "excellent" credit scores, American Family comes in more than 40.12 more affordable. Drivers with "good" credit scores typically save around 38% with American Family compared to average premiums from Hastings Mutual.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

American Family typically offers lower prices than Hastings Mutual when it comes to drivers with bad credit. Drivers with "fair" credit pay about 32% a month less with American Family compared to Hastings Mutual, and those with "poor" scores normally save an average of around 27% a month.

Is American Family or Hastings Mutual Better for Drivers who Work from Home or Have Short Commutes?

The amount of time you spend behind the wheel of your car plays a big role in your monthly rates. Usually, those who drive less will end up with less expensive prices since there's less of a chance of causing an accident and filing an insurance claim.

As you can see in the table above, annual mileage doesn't have much of an impact on how much Hastings Mutual charges. However, there's a small difference in monthly premiums for American Family, with policyholders who drive the least paying about $5 less every month compared to those who drive 12,000 miles each year. Still, for drivers in both categories, American Family is the more affordable carrier.

American Family or Hastings Mutual: Compare Rates for Urban, Suburban, and Rural Drivers

Where you live can have a pretty big impact on your monthly auto insurance bill. Normally, drivers who live in less densely populated rural areas will pay quite a bit less than urban policyholders because of the small number of cars that are on the roads where they live.

American Family boasts the lowest average premiums for drivers in all types of areas, no matter if they're urban, suburban, or rural.

Those in rural areas can expect to pay around $121 monthly with American Family compared to Hastings Mutual's $164. Drivers in suburban ZIP codes pay about $134 with American Family compared to Hastings Mutual's $177 a month. In urban areas, American Family's average prices are around $166 per month compared to Hastings Mutual's $291.

American Family vs. Hastings Mutual Discounts

You want to save as much money as you can, right? The best way to do that is by utilizing as many insurance discounts as possible.

But where do you even start? With so many discounts out there, it may seem challenging to find all the of the ones you're eligible for.

Luckily, we did the hard work for you and broke down all of the different discounts offered by both American Family and Hastings Mutual so that you can find the carrier that has the most discounts and, therefore, the largest savings.

American Family blows Hastings Mutual away when it comes to the sheer amount of discounts available, offering 21 different discounts to Hastings Mutual's 10.

There are a couple discounts both carriers offer, but American Family also offers discounts for advance quote, connect partner, COVID-19 relief, and more.

On the other hand, Hastings Mutual has a few proprietary discounts of their own for things like ABS discounts, company car discounts, good driving discounts, and more.

Final Thoughts: Is American Family or Hastings Mutual Best for You?

So, you've seen how different variables can affect your auto insurance rates. We've broken down the different discounts each carrier offers, too. But, at the end of the day, is American Family or Hastings Mutual the best one for you and your specific profile and needs?

American Family might be best for you if....

• You have below-average credit.
• You want the most robust protection via a "full coverage" policy.
• Your neighborhood is in a rural area.

Hastings Mutual might be best for you if...

• You live in one of the following states: Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, and Wisconsin.
• You have received a ticket within the last few years.
• Your driving record contains an at-fault collision.

Hopefully, this guide has ben a valuable resource as you compare American Family and Hastings Mutual. We also hope we've given you the information you need to make the best decision when it comes to your insurance.

But, at the end of the day, there's only one way to know for sure that you're getting the best possible deal on car insurance -- comparing quotes from a handful of companies, not just American Family and Hastings Mutual. Luckily, Compare.com makes it easy for you to do just that. Simply enter your ZIP codes below and get multiple quotes from some of the best insurance carriers in your area, all for free.

American Family vs. Hastings Mutual FAQs

Is American Family or Hastings Mutual cheaper?

American Family is the less expensive of the two companies when looking at national average premiums, with policies averaging $140 a month with American Family and $211 for Hastings Mutual. Even so, that doesn't mean American Family will be the cheapest company for every policyholder, since there are a range of different factors (things like gender, age, driving record, etc.) that play a role in how much you pay.

Who is better, American Family or Hastings Mutual?

Unfortunately, the real answer is "it depends.". Neither carrier is "better" for each policyholder -- it all boils down to your unique car insurance profile. For example, American Family is cheaper for drivers who have less-than-stellar credit scores, while Hastings Mutual offers less expensive rates for drivers with an at-fault accident on their record.

Why do American Family and Hastings Mutual offer me different rates?

Auto insurance carriers use a lot of different variables when determining the prices they charge. Things such as age, your driving record, gender, where you call home, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all be used. Both American Family and Hastings Mutual calculate rates using different formulas, so it's likely they'll offer different premiums. The best way to determine which company is the lowest for you is by comparing personalized quotes from several different companies.

How do I know if American Family or Hastings Mutual is right for me?

The only way to find the insurance carrier that's right for you is by getting quotes from multiple carriers and finding the one best suited for your individual budget. Luckily, sites like Compare.com make it easy for you to do just that. Just enter your area information and you'll get quotes from dozens of your local top car insurance companies for free. That way, you can guarantee you're getting the most affordable price. And maybe you'll find that the best company for you isn't American Family or Hastings Mutual at all, but another you hadn't even thought of!

Methodology

All of the data referenced in this article has been gathered in collaboration with Quadrant Information Services. We analyzed more than 2.5 million rows of carrier-reported data to calculate the average rates referenced above. All rates are based on an insurance profile of a single-vehicle policy for a driver that owns a 2016 Honda Accord. For more information on how we calculate rates, please reference our data methodology.